Remote control system



L. E. MYLTING 2,010,271

REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM Aug. 6, 1935.

Filed Sept. 1, 1928 INVENTOR LAURITZ E. MYLTING ATTORNE Patented Aug. e, 1935- 2,010,271

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,010,271 nmuo'rn CONTROL SYSTEM Lauritz E. Mylting, Hoboken, N. J.

Application September 1, 1928, Serial No. 303,434

4 Claims. (01. 177-351) The invention relates to remote control sys- Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the terns embodying apparatus, for example, suitable electrical connections between two stations. as a long-distance water-level recording gauge. Fig. 2 is a perspective view, more or less di- It has for its object a simple, rugged and effective agrammatic, illustrating apparatus suitable for 5 measuring or like system operating with precision use in the novel control system.

to indicate or record conditions prevailing at 9'. Referring to the drawing, more particularly Fig. remote station; also to devise a system of this 1 thereof, I 0 designates one of a plurality of stacharacter which shall require a minimum of intions, for example, the station at which certain terconnecting circuits between stations. local conditions occurring are to be reproduced 10 In carrying out the invention, use is made of as by indi tin r recording t sam a n r 10 two or more synchronously operating devices, as more remote stations, as the station I I. These synchronous motors which may be driven from stations have available a suitable source or sources a source of alternating electricity common to the of a at g Cu en f p the Power various stations, such as a pow r line extending main l2 common to both stations. At each of the therebetween. Provision may be made at one of Stations, ve i pr v d d 8 Synchronous 15 the stations, to wit: the station at which some motor l3 d a y us motor P change in a physical or other condition occurs, v connected t t e p wer main l a pfor opening and closing during recurrlngcycles d therefrom in synehrenismof constant frequency or equal length of time The m0t01' l3 at h tra s tti Station s periods, a circuit connecting the various stations, ned to have rotate continuously therewith 20 the means afforded for this purpose embodying contact means embodying the element l5, driven two contact elements, one being operated from from the motor s a is to o ate e wi While the synchronous device at the particular station a u t l t I1 p at s with the l m nt and the other variable in accordance with some to e and break a S a y energized 0011- local condition. The physical or oth l t trol circuit 18 connecting the two stations I 0 25 change to be transmitted is arranged to affect an and The latter element y comprise, for open-circuit or closed-circuit interval of a period example, a tank, a ow in Fi 2, co a n and thereby influence apparatus responsive to a Conductive liquid Such mercury and into such change in the circuit conditions and located which t former element is p ed o dip at a diiferent station where the effect may be s it s at d p r d ally and in r currin cycles 30 suitably indicated or recorded, said responsive of equal time P i under the influence 01 its means being under further control of the syndriving y n s m or 3. chronous device at that station, This rotatable contact-making element is As the apparatus at both stations are operating Shown m d s a e r l s a tp continuously, it will be evident that any change member or and is located with reference 35 in the connecting circuit will immediately be apto the maximum level of the cury e em t l1 parent at a receiving station or stations; and the so when the flettencd portion eo is y t m h rein discl sed th may give n tice of substantially horizontal, contact between the two any break, shrt c1rcuit or other abnormal com elements will be entirely broken. Once at least, 40 m therefore, during each cycle the circuit will be 40 A further object of the invention resides in the bfoken at this Point; moreover, the duraprovision of means for giving visible notice, for of the wen'cimlfit will depend upon example, if the respective synchronous devices the level of the meFcury the e should for any reason get out of step'and thus accordance wlth the invention this level Is introduce error in the transmitted record. To cotrespond with.the particular 45 this end, an additional circuit opening and 'clos- (1.1mm It is deslred to transmlt to the v tion II, but should not fall below a level suitable ing means is provided at the transmitting station to afiord n a eci me out t e-riod v and operates jointly with its said contact conh ical i ppr e ac p 2 trolling means to open said circuit for a fixed Suzi s 12:? s fif gg 'ig gi g zi f 5 interval of each cycle and as determined by the p p a g S v may be transmitted thereto through a pipe is,

synchronous device at the transmitting station. t also filled t mercury and leading t a The nature of the invention, however, will best devi f any well-known or special design (not be understood when described in connection with shown) subject, for example, to the weight of a,

the accompanying drawing, in which: column of water. This device may thereby serve as a means for transmitting to the remote station II the height of water in a reservoir (not shown) and located at the station 80.

To reproduce these conditions at the former 5 station, the circuit l8 has included in series therewith means responsive to the current flowing in .said circuit, for example, the solenoid 20. The latter is adapted through its plunger to attract a platen frame 2| when said circuit is energized 10 and move said frame against the record strip 22, suitably advanced in any well-known or special manner, to force thereby the strip into contact with a recording pen 23 of a reciprocable pen carriage 24.

The latter is designed to be reciprocateol across the strip 22 in cycles corresponding to the cycles of the contact means 55; and to this end a heartshaped member 25, similar to the said member I5, is driven from the synchronous motor M at 0 the receiving station it and is designed to contact with a tangential spring-drawn bar 26 attached to the said carriage. The latter is guided for the reciprocating movement in a suitable guideway 21.

Thus, during each complete cycle of the contact means IS, the pen 23 will be drawn across the strip 22 and returned to the initial position, indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. At the particular interval that the circuit is closed at the contact means, through engagement of the element 85 with the mercury fll, strip 22 will be pressed into contact with the pen 23 and a record 30 effected thereon.

The element l5, furthermore, is so designed 1 that a predetermined angular movement thereof equals a definite vertical displacement of the contact range; and a definite variation in the level of the mercury ill will be correspondingly reproduced by the pen 23. It will be understood that the indication transmitted may be variously accomplished and that, also, the open-circuit interval rather than the closed-circuit interval may be utilized for this purpose. or various combinations thereof.

However, should the synchronous devices at the various stations for some reason get out of step, it will be appreciated that correct indications or records will not be afforded at the station it. Provision has, therefore, been made to at once afiord an indication of such departure from synchronous operation so that correction may immediately be made in the operation of the motors.

' To this end, a second circuit controlling means is included in the circuit l8 at station I 0 and is operated from the shaft it of the motor I3 thereat. This contact controlling means embodies a semi-circular element 35 adapted .to periodically dip into a body of mercury 36 which, however, remains always at the same level so that there is a fixed ratio of open-circuit interval to closedcircuitinterval for each cycle in the rotation of this member. The lowermost position of the point of the contact element l5, also, is timed to the middle circuit breaking period of the element 35; and is so arranged, moreover, that the latter always interrupts the circuit for an appreciable period during the contact period of element l5. In other words, during broken-circuit periods of the member 35, member l5 will always dip into the mercury and to an extent to always afford an appreciable period of contact before and after the break introduced by member 35.

This will result in cutting oi! an initial portionof the record 30 at the middle of the con- .75 tact period so that the same will always start,.

for example, at a line beyond the zero line 31, as indicated.' Should, however, the two motors get out of synchronism, the movement of the 'pen 23 over the strip 22 will be ahead of or behind the proper time of closed-circuit conditions 5 in the circuit i8 and a displaced break or gap would occur in the record portion 38 shown, for example, at 39, so that no basis of comparison of the records is possible. This would thus indicate that the apparatus is. not functioning properly so that steps could be taken immediately to correct the same. It is to be understood that the checking interval normally starts and terminates on the line shown immediately below the zero line 31, thus at all times leaving the space below this line clear during normal operation. Should any mark appear in this space, it is indicative of trouble; and any occurrence of the checking break above and below the aforesaid datum line will invariably cause the nor- 20 mally clear space on the paper to be marked. Moreover, the contact interval of the member 35 is never less than approximately twice the checking break.

I claim:

1. A remote control system, comprising synchronously and continuously operating driving means located at separated transmitting and receiving stations respectively, an electric control circuit between the stations, transmitting means located in said circuit at-the transmitting station and including an element operated by the synchronous driving means at this station for controlling periodically the electric circuit to afford recurring cycles wherein both open and 35 closed circuit intervals are afiorded and an element responsive to a variable condition and cooperating with the first-named element to vary the length of one of the intervals afiorded thereby, a second transmitting means in series with the first-named transmitting means and embodying a circuit controlling'device operated by the transmitting station synchronous driving means to aiford always a fixed ratio of open-circuit interval to closed-circuit interval, means at the receiving station responsive to current in the said controlling circuit and including a platen movable thereby, a recording stylus, means controlled by the synchronous driving means at said receiving station and including a member to reciprocate said stylus, and a movable record sheet adapted to be brought into contact with said stylus by the said platen when the responsive means at the receiving station is energized by the joint operation of the two said transmitting means, said stylus then reciprocating simultaneously over the record sheet to efi'ect a record, thereon from a fixed base line of said sheet to a point representative of the quantity being measured, failure of the record to begin at said line being indicative of lack of synchronism of the transmitter and receiver. j

2. A remote control system, comprising synchronously and continuously operating driving means located at separated transmitting and receiving stations respectively, an electric control circuit between the stations, transmitting means located in said circuit at the transmitting station and including an element operated by the synchronous driving means at this station for controlling periodically the electric circuit to afford recurring cycles wherein both open and closed circuit intervals are afforded and an element responsive to a variable condition and cooperating with the first-named element to vary the length of one of the intervals airorded thereciprocate saidstylus, and a movable record sheet by, a second transmitting means in series with the first-named transmitting means and embodying a circuit controlling. device operated by the transmitting station synchronous driving means to afford always a fixed ratio of opencircuit interval to closed-circuit interval, means at the receiving station responsive to current in said controlling circuit and including a platen movable thereby, a recording stylus, means controlled by the synchronous driving means at said receiving station and including a member to readapted to be brought into contact with said stylus by the said platen when the responsive means at the receiving station is energized by the joint operation of the two said transmitting means, the said stylus then reciprocating simultaneously over the record sheet to efiect a record thereon from afixed base line of said sheet and of a length determined by the period of contact interval '0! the first-named transmitting means, the failure' of the said record to begin at said linebeing indicative oi lack ct synchronism of the transmitter and receiver.

3. A remote control system, comprising synchronously and continuously operating driving means located at separated transmitting and receiving stations respectively, an electric control circuit between the stations, transmitting means located insaid circuit at the transmitting station and including an element operated by the synchronous driving means at this station for controlling periodically the electric circuit to aiIord recurring cycles wherein both open and closed circuit intervals are aflorded and an element responsive to a variable condition and cooperating with the first-named element to vary the length of one of the intervals afiorded thereby, a second transmitting means in serieswith the first-named transmitting means and embody ing a circuit controlling device operated by the transmitting station synchronous driving means to aiiord always a hired ratio of open-circuit interval to closed-circuit interval and predetermined with reference to the first-named transmitting means, means at the receiving station responsive A to current in the said controlling circuit and including a platen movable thereby, a recording stylus, means controlled by the synchronous driving means at said receiving station and including a member to reciprocate said stylus, and a movable record sheet adapted to be brought into contact with said stylus by the said platen when the responsive means at the receiving station is energized by the joint operation of the two said' transmitting means, said stylus then reciproeating simultaneously over the record sheet to effect a record thereon from a fixed base line or said sheet to a point representative or the quantity being measured, failure of the record to begin at said line being indicative of lack of synchronism oi the transmitter and receiver.

4. A remotecontrol system, comprising synchronously and continuously operating driving means located. at separated transmitting and receiving stations respectively, an electric control circuit between the stations, transmitting means located in said circuit at the transmitting station and including an'element operated by the synchronous-driving means at this station for controlling periodically the electric circuit to 4 afford recurring cycles wherein both open and closed circuit intervals areaflorded andan element responsive to a variable condition and cooperating with the first-named element to vary the length of one of the intervals afforded thereby. a second transmitting means in series with the first-named transmitting means and embodying a circuit controlling device operated by the transmitting station synchronous driving means to aii'ord always a fixed ratio of opencircuit interval to closed-circuit interval, .an electrical recording device at the receiving station responsive to current in the said controlling by the synchronous driving means at said receiv ing station and including a member to reciprocate said stylus, and a movable record sheet adapted to be brought into contact with said stylus when the responsive means at the receiving station is energized by the joint operation or the two said transmitting means, said stylus then reciprocating simultaneously over the record sheet to effect a record thereon from a fixed base line of said sheet to a print representative or the quantitybeing measured, failure of the record to begin at said line being indicative of lack of synchronism oi the transmitter and receiver.

' LAURI'IZ E. MYL'I'ING. 

